Becoming a Distinguished Communicator means that you have gone above and beyond in your undergraduate education to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in communication, especially in your degree area. Students who dig deep throughout their time at Illinois Tech to grow and foster their communication skills through this program will receive a medal to wear at graduation and an impressive resume line. Successfully completing the Distinguished Communicator Medal Program will give you critical communication skills that complement technical expertise in your major and equip you to stand out, both on the job market and in your career.
Learn more about how to join and complete this program below!
What are the requirements for becoming a Distinguished Communicator?
There are four key requirements to become a Distinguished Communicator at Illinois Tech:
- Excel in your communication classes. Earn a B or higher in at least 15 credit hours that have a (C) designation at Illinois Tech.
- Get technical communication training. Complete at least one of the following courses: COM 421 (Technical Communication), COM 424 (Document Design), COM 425 (Technical Editing), or COM 435 (Intercultural Communication).
- Practice communicating about your work. Present a poster at a college research day. Use this opportunity to show off a fantastic class project or research that you have worked on with a professor to the broader Illinois Tech community.
- Practice communicating about yourself. Create an online portfolio to showcase who you are and what you have achieved in your major classes. The Communication Across the Curriculum program (CAC) will help you develop and refine this portfolio so that you are prepared to enter the workforce after graduation and let the world know what you can do.
How do I complete these requirements?
Coursework (requirements 1 and 2). Complete the course requirements listed above anytime during your undergraduate career at Illinois Tech. We’ll take care of verifying your coursework with the registrar after you apply, and before you graduate.
Research poster (requirement 3). Every year, many colleges and departments around campus hold research days and poster sessions where students can present their class projects or ongoing research they are doing with professors. Present a poster at one of these during your time at Illinois Tech—many even heavily encourage undergraduates to submit! Once you’ve presented, send a .pdf file of your poster and a quick snapshot of you at the session to Hannah Ringler at hringler@iit.edu for verification.
Online portfolio (requirement 4). Online portfolios are a great way to establish a professional web presence and show off your unique skills and accomplishments to the world. The CAC will work with you to perfect your portfolio. Here are the steps:
- Submit a proposal for your portfolio. The proposal form below will help you think through what you want to accomplish with your portfolio, as well as get some feedback in your initial planning stages. Complete the proposal form and send it, along with any questions, to hringler@iit.edu for feedback.
- Draft your portfolio. After receiving feedback, it’s time to make your actual portfolio. See the guide below, which walks you through what it should include, complete with examples. Once you get it up and running, send the link to hringler@iit.edu for review.
- Revise and share. Revise your portfolio based on the feedback you received, and let us know at hringler@iit.edu. Once you and the CAC agree that your portfolio is amazing and showcases your work well, we’ll mark this requirement as done and you can share it with the world!
Documents for creating your portfolio:
Portfolio design guide (with examples!)
How long does it take to complete the Distinguished Communicator Medal Program?
The four requirements span across your time at Illinois Tech. You can choose to take your C-designated classes and technical communication coursework whenever they fit best into your specific degree program. We recommend completing the poster and portfolio requirements in your third or fourth year at Illinois Tech—when you have more experience in your major that you can talk about.
What do I get by becoming a Distinguished Communicator?
In addition to developing the technical and major-specific communication skills that will take you far in our modern-day world, you’ll also receive the following:
- an impressive resume line that shows off your unique skills to employers, and
- a medal to wear at Commencement. Medals will be passed out at Graduate Salute, when you pick up your cap and gown.
How do I join?
Fill out this application form to begin the process of becoming a Distinguished Communicator. After submitting this form, the CAC will be in touch to help you plan and track your progress through the requirements, as well as to answer any questions you may have. We recommend applying as early as possible in your time at Illinois Tech to make sure you have time to complete everything!
Questions? Contact CAC director Hannah Ringler at hringler@iit.edu.